Venezuela promised to support Chile in its criminal investigation for the kidnapping and murder of a former military man Venezuelan in Santiago, in February, at the hands of criminals from the Tren de Aragua gang, according to investigations by Chilean judicial authorities.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil revealed on Friday night that the attorney general's offices of both nations agreed to activate the “mutual cooperation assistance” mechanism regarding the criminal case for the death of Ronald Ojeda, a former military dissident of the government of Nicolás Maduro. who was in Chile and whose body was found buried days after his kidnapping from his home was confirmed.
Gil confirmed that the Venezuelan Public Ministry received a request for “interinstitutional support” to support the investigations of the case in Chile.
“The Chilean government and people can be assured of absolute collaboration on the part of Venezuela, we will proceed to capture any criminal within our territory, who is accused of committing a crime inside or outside our country,” published the chancellor. Venezuelan in his account in X.
The Chilean prosecutor's office revealed this week that the kidnapping and murder of Ojeda It was organized by the criminal gang the Tren de Aragua from Venezuela, ruling out the motive of his alleged links with criminal gangs or that he has been kidnapped for ransom. The institution requested the extradition of two suspicious people.
Gil reiterated the Venezuelan government's assertion that it has “finished” the Aragua Train criminal gang in its territory.
“We will provide all support to put an end to crime and any criminal organization that intends to operate in Chilean territory,” he indicated.
The body of Ojeda, a 32-year-old former Venezuelan soldier who was expelled from the Venezuelan army accused of conspiracy and who was kidnapped on February 21 from his home in Santiago de Chile by four people who pretended to be Chilean police officials, was found. days later in a suitcase underground in a popular area of the capital of that country.
The prosecutor in charge of the investigations in Chile, Héctor Barros, announced that they would require international criminal assistance from Venezuelan authorities to help them arrest “two Venezuelan citizens” who would be in their country of origin.
Article 69 of the Venezuelan Constitution prohibits the extradition of Venezuelans, however.
The Chilean Minister of the Interior, Carolina Toha, announced on Friday that they supported the prosecution in its request for international criminal assistance, through diplomatic efforts, contacts with the authorities and participation in international forums demanding the collaboration of the Venezuelan government in the investigation.
The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, called his ambassador for consultations in Caracas on Thursday by reiterating that he considers “irresponsible” and “worrying” the statements of the Venezuelan foreign minister regarding the Aragua Train, which he considered as a “fiction” of the press.
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